This site is dedicated to showing you that even with a limited grocery budget you can cook good meals for your family. There are lots of menu plans, helpful advice and tips and many tried and true recipes. Some of them from my family archives. I hope you enjoy your visit here at Cooking On A Budget.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Shrimp with Sherry Cream Sauce

Did you ever think that you could buy shrimp while maintaining a decent food budget? Well you can. Maybe not as often as those with an unlimited budget, but it's not out of the realm of possibility. Last year at this time our local grocery store did their annual holiday truckload sale for seafood. But for our budget it wasn't the greatest deal as it was the "normal" price as it had been throughout the year. This year however, the price came down to where I could afford to pick up a two pound bag one week and another the week after.

This particular dish is made with 16/20 count shrimp which means 16 to 20 shrimp per pound. We generally get 38-40 in each bag which is great because we get at least two meals out of the bag. For this recipe in which the shrimp is being served over rice with the sauce my suggested serving per person would be no more than 8 shrimp per serving. These are fairly large shrimp and although they shrink when cooked, that's an adequate serving.

If you are having guests for the holidays and want to make something special, this recipe is delicious and it is easy to make. The only "fussy" ingredient if you will in this recipe is sherry which I urge you to purchase at a liquor store and not a grocery store. The shrimp cost $15.98 for the two pound bag which makes it a little less than what you would spend on say a spoon roast at $4.99 per pound.

Cooks tips:
Whenever you are using frozen shrimp, be sure to defrost them in cold water. Takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Another thing: remove the shells and save them for stock. Also be sure and rinse the shrimp one more time after removing the shells.

If you don't have shrimp shells in your freezer already, make the shrimp stock from the shells you get from shelling the shrimp you are prepping. I already had some, so my stock is set and I'll save the shells I get from this bag and put them in the freezer.

16-20 count shrimp take about 8 minutes total to cook. If the shrimp curl to an O they say they are overcooked and if in a C they are cooked. My husband and I happened to like the shrimp cooked a tad longer than the C.

Shrimp Stock:
Take your shrimp shells and put them in a sauce pot. Cover with 3 cups
water. Add in 2 or 3 bay leaves and about 1 1/2 tsp. of whole black
peppercorns and about 1/2 tsp. of salt. Cover and simmer for about 30
minutes. At the end strain the stock

You can freeze the remaining left over stock by placing in a container with a lid, or make discs in muffin tins. After they are frozen pop them out and put them in zip lock bags in the freezer. Put in 2 or 3 per bag for handy use.

16/20 ct. shrimp

1 cup shrimp stock

2 tbs. half and half or heavy cream

1/2 cup sherry

3 tbsp. onion - finely minced

2 cloves garlic - finely minced

1 tbsp. butter

2 1/2 tsp. paprika

1 tsp. granulated garlic

salt and pepper to taste

After your shrimp are prepped, place them in a bowl and add in the 2 tsp. paprika and 1 tsp. granulated garlic. Mix well and store covered in the refrigerator.

In a saute pan melt the butter over medium low heat, add in the onion and garlic. Stir and cook for about 2-3 minutes.

Add in the sherry and over medium heat reduce the liquid by half.

Next, add in the shrimp stock and cook until that reduces by half. Add in the last 1/2 tsp. of paprika.

Add the shrimp to the pan and cook for about 2 minutes. Stir and turn the shrimp over. Cook for 2 more minutes.

Remove the shrimp and add in the cream or half and half. Stir and cook for 2 minutes.

Add the shrimp back to the sauce and continue to cook for about 4 more minutes until the shrimp are cooked through. About 8 minutes total for this size shrimp.

Taste and adjust for additional seasoning.

Serve over rice and add a side or two of vegetables. The recipes feeds 4-5 people.